Shropshire hospitals boss Tom Taylor is stepping down from his £165,000-a-year job to take up a new national role.

Mr Taylor, 59, has been chief executive of the body which runs the Royal Shrewsbury and Telford’s Princess Royal since 2005.

He will take up the post of chief executive with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, which is based at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire.

Its role is to help improve the efficiency and competitiveness of the farming and horticultural industries in the UK.

Mr Taylor came to the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust four-and-half years ago with the reputation of an NHS “troubleshooter” and with the task of solving its huge cash problems.

Mr Taylor said today: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the trust. When I came in 2005 it faced major financial challenges, so I am delighted that we now have an organisation that has been rated as excellent for quality of service.

“I am grateful and proud to have worked with so many passionate and committed people in the NHS, striving every day to provide the highest quality services for patients.

“After more than 18 years association with the NHS and 24 years in the energy sector, I am looking forward to a new challenge in a different field.”

The search for Mr Taylor’s replacement will begin “immediately”.

Mr Taylor said he hoped to take up his new post early in the new financial year.

Recently, Mr Taylor has been closely involved in controversial proposals to overhaul the way health services are delivered in Shropshire and the drive to take the trust to foundation status, which will give it more autonomy.

Under his leadership the two hospitals have also dramatically cut their rates of the superbug MRSA and other infections and now have one of the best records in the West Midlands.

Trust chairman, Dr John B Davies, said it would miss Mr Taylor’s “energy and enthusiasm”.

Mr Taylor has spent most of his life in the public sector, initially for Norweb and the Central Electricity Generator Board. He joined the NHS in 1993.

By Health Correspondent Dave Morris